Improvement in school desks and seats



4UNTTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES J. HIGGINS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SCHOOL DESKS AND SEATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 12,038, dated February 21, 1871.

I, CHARLES J. HIGeuNs, of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain Improvements in School- Desks, of which the following is a specifica tion:

Nature cmd Objects of thc Intention.

My invention relates to that class of schooldesks in which a seat is combined with the desk; and it consists in the manner in which it is constructed, having for its object to combine-with a graceful and pleasing form the maximum of strength With the least Weight, and so that it maybe conveniently folded and packed for shipment.

Description of Accompanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a school-desk embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are sectional and detached views, showing in detail more clearly the construction and arrangement of the several parts.

General Description.

A and A are the legs of the desk, which it is designed to make of any suitable material, bent into the required form, as shown, the legs A and the horizontal bar B (more clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5) being formed of one piece. G is the lid or top; D, the end pieces, E, the back, and F the seat.

The end pieces, D, are hinged to the lid C, on the under side, with a hinge of such construction that they may be moved or slid forward, as shown in Fig. 3, and then folded up against the lid, as shown in Fig. 5. rlhe lid is hinged to the rail B, and, when the end pieces are folded up, may be turned down against the legs A. rEhe bent legs cross each other, and are halved together, as shown-in Fig. 2. The seat F is hinged to a casting, G, attached to the legs A A', as shown in Fig. 2. The detail of the construction of the hinge is clearly shown in Fig. 6.

A socket, H, on the rear end of arm I, to which the seat-boards F are attached, is inserted in a socket on the outer end of casting G. The sockets a-re secured together by a bolt that passes through the center, being cast or otherwise secured in the socket in the outer end of casting G, and having a screw and nut on the other end. The socket H is slotted, as shown in Fig. 6, leaving the solid parts il i as bearings, that rest against the pin J.

It is designed to surround the pin J with india-rubber tubing, to prevent the bearingsz' i from making a noise when the seat is turned up or down.

'The construction of casting G, which will be readily understood from the drawing, Fig. 2, is such as to brace and strengthen the legs where they cross each other, as well as to secure them firmly together, and also serves as a bracket to which to attach the seat.

Fig. 7 represents the plate or cap that is secured to the casting G on the opposite side of the legs, and which holds the casting in place and the legs firmly together.

To fold the desk for shipment, so as to occupy the least practicable space, all that is necessary is to withdraw the shelf L and rod K, and take out one of the screws that hold the caps g, Fig. 7. rIurn the cap to one side ,and take off the legs A. Slide out the end pieces, D, and fold them up against the top or lid O, as shown in Fig. 5. Lay the legs A in against the back, and fold the lid down against them. After the legs A are taken off, the cap g is turned back toits place and the screw inserted to keep the casting Gin position. The seat F is folded up against the back, thus reducin g the desk to the most compact form suitable for shipment.

A bolt-rod, K, passes through the legs A. just below the shelf L, (shown in dotted lines in Fig'. 2,) which serves to hold the desk firmly together.

rJlhe legs A may be made either curved, as shown, or straight, if desired, and separate from the bar B, and the latter attached to the legs in any suitable manner.

ln some cases the bar B may be omitted, and the lid G hinged to the back slats, E. The lid may also be hinged to the upper ends of the legs A. The end pieces may also be hinged to either the legs A', to the back slats, or to the shelf.

A graceful and convenient seat may be made by leaving off the desk portion and that part of legs A above the casting G.

Claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. The desk constructed with the legs crossing each other and supported by the casting Gr, as shown, in combination lWith the hinged seat F, lid C, and end pieces, D, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The casting Gr, formed and applied to the intersection of the legs A A', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The seat-hinge consisting,` of the socket H, bearings i' i, and pin J, covered with rubber, all as described and specified.

CHARLES J. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

WM. H. WEEKS, O. F.. MAYHEW. 

